Weston Communicating Climate Programme

Overview

Now in its fifth year, Communicating Climate is a six-month strategic communications and campaign training programme designed for organisations working on climate justice, grassroots climate advocacy, and community-focused climate action. This programme will give you the tools and expertise to create and implement powerful campaigns that recognise the climate crisis as a social and political problem as well as an environmental one. 

At a time when many environmental organisations are fearful that the second Trump presidency will give oxygen to climate deniers and represent a major setback for coordinated climate action, this programme has never felt more needed. Telling the right story on climate change is an essential part of driving the action that this moment desperately needs. We know that crafting the right message and reaching the right audiences can be challenging, and that it’s not always easy to transform awareness of the climate crisis into a desire for change. 

2025 Programme

They are looking for 20 UK-based organisations to take part in this free six-month programme, which kicks off in May 2025.  

Designed specifically for small to medium-sized organisations, the programme is funded by leading media agency MG OMD and has been developed with the support of an Advisory Group made up of leading media organisations, environmental charities, and climate communication experts. 

During the programme, you will:

• Receive training in key areas of strategic communications including framing, campaigning and storytelling.
• Work with a dedicated team of media and creative volunteers to create an ambitious and tactical communications campaign for 2024.
• Gain opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration with people working in communications in the sector.
• Explore the biggest communications challenges and opportunities for driving transformational change for the planet.

Learn how to talk about complex climate and environmental issues and how they intersect with other areas, reach your target audiences and motivate people to take meaningful action!

Programme overview

Over six months, you’ll gain the confidence and skills to create communications that inspire change and galvanise action. The programme is structured around a series of interactive workshops, expert guidance, and collaborative sessions, ensuring you leave with the strategic tools, practical skills and sector relationships needed to make an impact. 

• Build skills and strategies for campaigning:Hone the art of framing messages, crafting narratives, and using storytelling to spark action and amplify your voice.
• Develop impactful climate communications:Learn to navigate the challenges of climate communications and create messages that resonate with your audiences.
• Strengthen your campaigns: Discover how to use social media effectively, work with the press, and drive engagement for your cause.
• Foster collaboration: Connect with peers across the climate justice movement, building networks and partnerships for ongoing support.
• Gain personalised support from industry experts: Work with professionals at MG OMD and their partners to develop creative solutions to your communications challenges.
• Learn advocacy and mobilisation techniques: Training will include learning how to engage with policymakers, theory of change development, and effective campaigning strategies to ensure your communications lead to real impact. 

By the end of the programme, you’ll have a deep understanding of how to campaign for meaningful change and will be ready to launch communications that mobilise your audiences and have real world impact.

The programme will take place between May and October 2025 and will be delivered entirely online.    

A full programme schedule will be shared with participants before the programme starts. 

Wondering if Communicating Climate is right for you?

This programme is for small-to-medium sized organisations addressing climate and environmental justice. It’s perfect for teams that run campaigns, engage in advocacy work, or want to sharpen their communication strategies. 

They require one lead contact per organisation who will attend the entire programme; however, the programme is designed to be flexible, allowing different individuals from your organisation to attend sessions along with you.  To apply to the programme as your organisation’s lead contact, you must be responsible for the day-to-day communications at your organisation, even if you have other non-communications-related responsibilities.   

Essential Criteria

• Operates with a charitable purpose (such as a CIC, CIO, or social enterprise).
• Works within the UK and has an annual turnover of £5 million or less.
• Either primarily works on climate justice or another issue that intersects with climate justice (like human rights, health, or education).
• Has a campaign idea they’d like to develop or improve. This can include advocacy, public engagement, awareness-raising, or mobilisation strategies. 

Desirable Criteria

They are open to supporting both organisations that are already working in the above fields and those that have an ambition to develop their work in these areas.

They welcome applications from all organisations that meet the essential criteria, but priority will be given to those that also meet the desirable criteria.